Timer



Aug. 19, 1930. c. w. HUNTER 1,773,186

TIMER Filed March 27. 1929 INVENTOR.

a ar/6's 1 6022722 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 19, 1930 cmiins w. HUNTER, or LOS enemas, CALIFORNIA TIMERI fhpplicatien filed March 27, 1929. Serial no. 350,230.

This invention relates to a current interrupting device for the ignit onsystem of an internal combustion engine.

An objectof-the invention 15 to provide improved means for housing theoperatingparts of the device whereby access may more readlly be had toany part which needs repair or replacement" Afurth'er object of theinvention .is to 'provicle (in -improved interrupting device andignition systemfltherefor which are particularly adapted for use onthe'engines of aeroplanes, and which may "beflsafelyfand quickly1ep'airedfor =ime arts thereof replaced without diificulty,and"withoutstopping the operation of th'eengina'while an: aeroplane is in flight 7m 3 I With the above and possibly other objects in view, the inventionincludes'acasingwvliei'e inis liousedthe mechanism ofthe device, saidcasing having doors whieh form la part of the wall" thereof, a"portion-Lo f, said 'mecha nism being attached to each of said doors tobe moved therewith'into and'out o'f its'operative position, the openingmovementof said doors bringing the mechanismcarriedthereby into 'aconveniently accessible position'fo'r replacement or repair, and alsoaffording ready access tothe portion of the'mechanism mounted within'the stationary part'of the casing. g

Referring to the' accompanying drawings, which illustrate what isat'presentldeemed'to be a preferred embodiment,

' Fig. l is a plan view of the "device, the up per side'of the coverbeing removech-the door being shown in full lines in the closed position and in dotted lines in the open position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in mid-sec tion on line 22 of Fig. 1.1

Fig.3 shows an extension shaft located between a distributor and theengine.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. is a section on line 55 of-Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings to the timer shaft 7 is secured amultiple cam 8, said cam in the illustrated embodiment of the inventionbeing a disk having six equidistant circumferentially arranged roundedcam points 8 with which cooperate two 0ppositely disposed contact arms 9and 10 of identical construction. Said contact arms are-respectivelymounted upon pivot posts 11 and 11" which extend up fromthe base plate12 Terminals 1-3 and 14 are provided to cooperate with these arms. 1

The pivot posts11 of-the contact arm 9 is secured to the segmental door12 which, when closed, forms a continuation of the casing-wall '6, saiddoor being pivoted to the casing at 13 the free end of said door closingdown upona recess 13 and being provided with a'latch 15. To the innersurface of'the saiddoor l2 is attached. a curved leai 'spring16 whichengages one ofthe limbs of the L sha'p ed contact arm 9 thus tending tomove the contact pointl'? of said arm into enga ement with the terminal13.

aidterminal 13is'manually adjustable, being carriedfby a winged bolt 20which has a: sorew-threatledengagement with an internally' threaded boss21 formed on door 12, a winged lock nut 22 being provided for said bolt20, and to hold the conducting plate 28 in place. Oppositely to the'door12 the casin'gis provided with a similar door 12, upon theinner side ofwhich are mounted the contact arm 10,,adjustable terminal 14, contactpoint 17 pivot post 11, spring 16, and door hinge 13 all olflwhichfunction the same as the corresponding parts which have already beendescribed.

In Fig. 3 is shown an instrument board 30 upon whiclrthe timer casing 6is mounted, said instrument board being -spaced at a considerabledistance away from the motor 31. The gearing 32 of said motor is timedproperly to rotate to driving shaft 33 which is operatively connectedwith the timer shaft 7 by means of a universal joint 31. Thisarrangement makes it more convenient for the mechanic to repair thedevice during flight.

Each door is normally locked by a locking bolt inserted into the lowerside of the casing near the free end of said door. Said bolt is normallyheld in the locking position by a leaf spring keeper :1 which is pivotedto the casing by a screw 42.

In Fig. 5 is shown, in sectional detail, an upstanding pin lllixed to asupport 12" to form a pivot for arm 9 which is removably placed on saidpivot. The swivelled spring arm 11 normally guards said arm fromdisplacement.

Current from a suitable source, in the present instance a battery 40*,is supplied to the high tension coils 41 and .41, connected by wire 41,"Theillustrated embodiment-of the invention shows two sets of currentinterrupting devices, one set being supplied through the high tensioncoil 41 and the other set being supplied through the high tension coil41. The set of devices supplied through the coil 41 comprises the springactuated terminal 42 which wipes upon a ring 43 mounted in the rotaryhead. 41 is a lead for coil 41, and 41 is a lead for coil 41. Theseleads are normally in circuit with the doors 12 and 12 as shown in Fig.1.

Head 44 is provided with another outwardly extending arm 45 throughwhich extends a lead 46 to conduct current from said ring 43. Said lead46 is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a series of terminals47 whereby one memberof each of the pair of. spark plugs which islocated in each engine cylinder. is supplied with current.

The other set of contact devices comprises the centrally located springactuated terminal 50 Qwhich engagesv a contact 51, the head 44. beingprovided with an arm 52 through which passes a conductor 53 to 0on ductcurrent from said contact 51. Said conductor 53 cooperates with a seriesof termi nals 54 whereby the other member than that already mentioned ofeach of the pair of sparkplugs in the individual engine cylinders issupplied with-current. ,t I In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention the doors on which part of the circuit-making andcircuit-breaking elements are mounted, are shown hinged to the casingbut it is not intended that the invention shall be limited to doors ofthis character, but other closure devices for openings in the casingwall :maybe provided to, perform the function of these doors, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. v r

One of the doors may be opened and the electrical equipment carried onthe inner face thereof be repaired without stopping the engine, becauseeach engine cylinder is provided with two sets of ignition devices, andeach of these devices is in a different system from the other, theopening of either door affecting the circuit of only one of theseignition systems.

An extra door may be provided on which is mounted a duplicate set ofcircuit-breaking elements, and this door may be substituted for a doorwhich is removed on account of faulty operation of the circuit breakerscarried thereby.

. Claims:

1. In a device of the class described, a current interrupting mechanismcomprising a distributor head and a casing within which said mechanismis normally housed, said casing having a door which forms a part of thewall thereof, a portion of said mechanism being attached to the innerside of said door to move therewith into and out of operative position.i 1

2. In a device of the class described, multiple system currentinterrupting means comprising a distributor headand a casing withinwhich said interrupting means is normally housed, said casing having aplurality of ,doors, a portion ofsaid interrupting means being attachedto each of said doors to move therewith into and out ofoperativeposition.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing having a relativelylargeopening through its wall, a door for said casing'forming aclosure forsaid opening, circuit-making and circuit-breaking elements part of whichare mounted onthe inner side-ofsaid door to be brought into anaccessible position when said door is opened, and cooperating contactscarried by said door and easing, said contacts completing the circuitthrough the aforementioned elements carried. by ,said door when it isclosed and when it is open interrupting the circuit of which they form apart.

, 4. In a device of the class described, a casin g vhaving a relativelylarge opening through its wall, a door for said casing forming a closurefor said opening, circuit-making and circuit-breaking. elements part ofwhich are mounted on the inner side of said door to be brought into anaccessible position when said door is opened, and cooperating contactscarried by said door and casing, said contacts completing the circuitthrough the aforementioned elements carried by said door when it isclosed and when it is open interrupting the circuit of which they form apart, one of said cooperating contacts being a spring arm which ispivoted to the casing to swing to and from a position for holding saiddoor closed. I 5. In a device of the class described, a currentinterrupting mechanism including a rotary distributor head, a two-armedcontact making and breaking member which cooperates with said head; anda terminal with which one of the arms of said two-armed membercooperates, said casing having a door which forms a part of the wallthereof, said two-armed member and said terminal being attached to saiddoor to move therewith into and out of operative position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my si ature.

CHARLES W. HUNTER.

